Container and closure device therefor



June 7, 1932. SIMPSON 1,861,483

CONTAINER AND CLOSURE DEVICE THEREFOR Filed March 31., 1928 mvmroa. Faber/ Q 5077,0500,

A TORNEY. '1

Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT D. SIMPSON, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HAL! NJ STEPHEN E.

LUDWIG, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO I CONTAINER AND CLOSURE DEVICE THEREFOR Application filed March 81, 1928. Serial No. 266,183.

My closure device is particularly suitable for collapsible tin containers of the type generally used for tooth paste, shaving soap and similar products. Any closure for containers of this type must eflectively exclude the air from the interior of the container to prevent drying of the product in the discharge opening of the container and must likewise firmly maintain itself either in closed or open position. It must also be obvious that such a closure device must be cheap to manufacture and must be readily and cheaply applied.

My invention contemplates the use of a closure device preferably secured to the neck of the container and movable in an are into and out of closing relation to the discharge opening of the container. The closure device which I utilize is of such structure and is so mounted that, when in closed position, it is efiectively locked against accidental opening. Likewise, it is effectively locked against accidental closing when it is in open position. Inraddition, my closure device is readily operable by the fingers of the hand which holds the container.

My invention also contemplates the use of a closure device with pivot points carried by the depending arms which form a part of the closur These pivot-points are preferably integral. Furthermore, they are of such form that they may be caused to make their own sockets in the neck of the container. In addition, the sockets so made in the neck of the container are closed at their bottoms and do invention is not limited not extend through the walls of the neck and into the discharge opening. In other words, these sockets are of such form that they do not permit the atmosphere to reach and dry the'product, though they do adequately hold the closure in its proper position at all times. 7

Other and furtherobjects and advantages of my invention will appear as this description progresses. The preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper end of a collapsible container with my closure applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly broken awayand partly in section, showing the closure member in different positions with reference to the discharge opening of the container.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the closure member showing the arms of the closure member in normal position and substantially the position that they assume when the member is attached to a tube or container.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown an 1 which is referably made of such material that the tu or container will be collapsible. As shown, this dispensingtube or container 1 is formed with a tapered reduction 2 and a discharge neck 3 provided with an opening 4.- It is clearly apparent that my to use with a collapsible dispensing tube or container. Its various features are broadly applicable to any tube or container where a closure of this nature is desired.

The discharge neck 3 which is formed integrally with the body of the tube or con- 75 illustrative embodiment of my invention comprising a dispensing tube or containertainer 1 is preferably dome shaped and made slightly heavier than the body of the tube or container. Due to its shape and the fact that it is made only slightly heavier than the 5 main body portion of the tube or container, the discharge neck is able to resist collapse under normal conditions. The curvature of the dome which forms the discharge neck of the tube or container is concentric with the top of the discharge neck and the cap. A concave depression 5 is formed, in the top of the dome 3, around the opening 4, resulting in a relatively sharp ring on the top of the dome. To seal the opening 4 so that the contents of the tube or container 1 will not escape therefrom, I rovide a closure device 6 which may be 'attac ed to the dome 3 by means of arms 8, which are preferably integrally formed with the cap or closure device 6. These arms 8 are preferably of some highly resilient material such, for instance, as tempered steel so as to have the propensity. of returning to their original position after they have been flexed, as shown by the dotted and solid lines in Fi re 4. t

On the end of the arms 8, that are farthest removed from the cap or closure device body, are cone shaped lugs or extensions 9 which are adapted to produce and fit into cone-shaped indentations 10 in the outer surface of the discharge neck 3. With reference to Figure 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that, commensurate with their functions, the cones 9 will give'the maximum of resistance to any tendency of the cap or closure device to separate from the discharge neck.

The cap or closure device 6 is formed with a concave interior surface, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and the cup ortion 11 of. the ea or closure device is a apted to receive a Hat yieldable pad 14 of cork or other suitable material. The cork preferably does not extend below the lower edges of the cup 11. 5 When pressure is applied to the under side of the pad, such pad is adapted to yield or compress and flex centrally into the space between its upper surface and the inner surface of the closure device 6 when the cap or closure device is oscillated over the edge or corner 12 on the discharge neck 3 in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing.

As hereinbefore stated, the extensions or arms 8 of the cap or closure device 6 are prefwhich is the point of maximum resistance.

With the extensions or arms so bowed, it will be evident that a slight contraction, suflicient "to retain the cap or closure device 6 in open 06 or closed position, will occur when the cap erably formed of some resilient material,-

or closure device has passed the point of maximum resistance. r

In operation, the cap or closure device may be oscillated in either direction by using the thumb or a finger of one hand while the tube or container is held in the same hand. Projections may be formed onthe to of the cap or closure device, as shown in igure 4,'t0 prevent slippage of the thumb or finger when the dischar e opening is being uncovered. The'yieldability of the pad 14, to ether with the resiliency of the arms 8 and t e relatively flat top of the discharge neck 3, will be suflicient to maintain the cap or closure device over the opening 4.

The concave depression 5 serves as a further prevention against leaka e and subsequent deterioration or loss 0 the tube or container contents. It will be apparent that, when the cap or closure device is moved 85 to cover the openin 4, some of the contents will fill the concave epression 5 to distribute the pressure of the contents over a greater area of the cap and thus minimize leakage. The resilient pad 14 is referably soaked in paraflin or a similar su stance to facilitate the slippage of the cap over the point of maximum resistance by providin lubrication and to render the resilient pa impervious to acids or alkalis which may be present in the tube or container contents.

In the application of my closure device to a tube or container of the usual collapsible type, I preferably provide a movable closure holding device which serves to force the closure onto the neck ofthe container. This closure holding device is preferably of such a structure that the arms 8 of the closure will be freeto spread 'laterall as they ride upon the inclined plane of the container neck. When they. have reached the 'proper position, this movable closure holding device is automatically operated to force the xtremities of the arms 8 towards each othe The result of this is that the conical pivot points on the inner sides of the extremities of. these arms are forced into the metal of the neck until they assume the position shown in Figure 2. Experience has shown that, when 1n this position, they will maintain their seats 11 against any pull or stress to which the 010- sure is likely to be subjected, that is, any such pull or stress as might tend to pull the closure off or otherwise displace it.

It will be apparent that I have provided a 120 closure device of extreme simplicity. The arms which hold this closure device in position upon the neck of the container are flexible both laterally and longitudinally. The lateral flexibility, permits a ready position- 125 ing of-the closure upon the neck of the container and ensures against removal of the closure when it is in position. The longitudinal flexibility, cooperates with the annular ring 5 on the dome-like neck 3 to produce 130 rounding its center,

face desi an effective locking of the closure either in closed position or in open position. In other words, this longitudinal flexibility permits the closure to ride over the annular ring 5 with a snap action, so that the closure is efi'ectively retained in either open or closed position.

The cork piece disposed within the portion 6 of the closure and having an air cushion behind it, cooperates in producing this snap action. Likewise, the flexibility of the arms 8 serves to force the cork piece 14 against the top of the neck with such firmness that the annular ring 5 actually extends upwardly into the cork. The depression in the top of the neck of the container has several functions. In addition to making the annular depression in the cork by means of'the annular ring which forms its outer edge, it also leaves a space for any residue of the product.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, discharge neck provided with an a erture, an oscillatable closure device pivote to said neck, said discharge neck having a ridge thereon surrounding such aperture and enclosing a sunken area, said oscillatable closure device having a yieldable' interior sured to be impressed by the ridge on said disc arge neck.

2. In combination, a container having a discharge neck provided with an aperture, an oscillatable closure device pivoted to said neck, said discharge neck having a ridge thereon surrounding such aperture and enclosing a sunken area, said oscillatable closure device having a yieldable interior surface designed to be impressed by the ridge on said discharge neck but to remain spaced from such sunken area.

3. In combination, a container having a discharge neck provided with an aperture, an oscillatable closure device pivoted to said neck and having a yieldable interior surface, an annular ridge formed on the top of said discharge neck and enclosing an area smaller than the area of. the yieldableinterior surface of said closure device.

4. In combination, a container having a discharge neck provided with an aperture, an oscillatable closure device pivoted to said neck, a flexible pad contained in and forming a part of said oscillatable closure device and having its upper surface normally spaced from the interior surface of said oscillatable closure for a substantial area surand an annular ridge formed on the top of-said discharge neck and designedto contact with said flexible a container having a said closure device when such closure device is in operative position rather than being confined to an area equal to the area of the normal discharge opening in said neck.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

ROBERT D. SIMPSON.

pad adjacent that portion thereof which is normally of the closure.

5. In combination, a container having a spaced from the interior surface 

